Somebody's Watching Me: You have to think WHL governors will be watching the QMJHL very closely as they open the season October 1st. The 'Q' is playing two months before the WHL and the OHL, who hope to drop the puck for real on December 4th. Cases of COVID have been high in Quebec but not so much in the Maritimes. The Maritime based teams will have fans. Those situated in Quebec will not. One advantage the QMJHL has over the WHL is no American based teams. The WHL has five! But again, will the pandemic put an abrupt end to the start of the season out east? The WHL will be watching with interest.
Schools In: Those WHL movers and shakers will also be watching closely the back to school COVID numbers. A massive jump in cases means bad news for junior hockey. A slight increase and we've got as chance to drop the puck in early December as planned.
Trades will have to wait: If the WHL is able to start the season on December 4th, will the trade deadline be pushed ahead...or is the right terminology - back? Typically held January 11th, you would have to think it will move to sometime in March to allow the wheat to be separated from the chaff on who the contenders are and who the pretenders will be.
I'm not Josh'n: It is nice to see Josh Gorges back in the game on some level. A smart hockey mind with leadership qualities coming out of his pores, Gorges has joined former teammate Simon Ferguson with the West Kelowna Warriors. Ferguson is the head coach. Gorges is the teams director of player development. Gorges did spend time with the Rockets organization two years ago, as an eye in the sky at home games, yet we didn't see the 36 year-old helping out Adam Foote's coaching staff when the 2019-2020 season started. You'd think he would have provided a helping hand in a pivotal season for the franchise as Memorial Cup hosts. Maybe it was a case of too many cooks in the kitchen.
Look at Luke: Still some solid Kelowna Rockets content in the NHL playoffs. While Tyler Myers and Alex Edler have left the bubble after the Vancouver Canucks were eliminated from the NHL playoffs, three alumni are still chasing the Stanley Cup. Blake Comeau and Jamie Benn are with the Dallas Stars while Luke Schenn is with the Tampa Bay Lightning. Schenn has a four month old and a three year-old child. If you don't think these NHL players aren't sacrificing, you are crazy.
Two of a Kind: If Luke Schenn wins the Stanley Cup with the Lightning, it will come a season after his brother Brayden did it with the St. Louis Blues. It begs the question, when was the last time brothers won Stanley Cup titles in back-to-back seasons? I took the photo above with the Schenn boys in the first meeting between the siblings at Prospera Place.
Deep Thoughts: COVID-19 has changed all of our lives. While it has impacted many negatively, it's allowed me to slow down and re-evaluate my life and where I'm at. I think it's given me a better perspective of what I do professionally and brought into focus what really matters. My sense is many people, specifically my colleagues, are really struggling now. Not all, but some. I am blessed to be employed, but I still have empathy for those that are without work with the hockey season on hold. Many who are employed by 'the team' are wondering what the future holds. I work for the radio station and am not on the Kelowna Rockets pay role. While its hard for me to relate to the struggles many are going through, I look at it this way. Do any of my colleagues struggle with a loss of a father? That one individual who was always there to celebrate your victories and discuss your losses in life? The loss of my dad was a traumatic event in my life. Some will relate, others can't. That's fine. Just because they can't connect with my circumstances and I to there's doesn't mean we can't have empathy for each other.
Scared of Needles? Am I an anti vaxxer? No. That said, I have avoided the flu shot for years after getting it and becoming really sick. With COVID-19 lurking, I may consider getting one if it keeps the flu away and prevents me from visiting a local hospital for those that may need it if they come down with the pandemic. Cases are expected to skyrocket this fall. Right now, I am on the fence. BC Public Health Officer Doctor Bonnie Henry says we should get one. But didn't she also tells us to avoid large crowds? That seemed to fall on deaf ears for many of us.
Kole and the Canucks: Kole Lind has one objective in mind. Crack the Vancouver Canucks roster next season. Lind watched with interest the Canucks impressive playoff run, which ended in a seven game series loss to the Vegas Golden Knights. "I think they got a lot of momentum early after beating Minnesota and obviously there top guys came to play. They are a really fun team to watch and they battled through a lot of adversity throughout the whole playoffs and they did well." Lind is spending the summer skating in Saskatoon. "I train at a gym called Next Level Training with a couple of other pro guys. It is getting a lot busier now (training). I took a break after camp, but now I am going onto the ice four or five times a week", Lind added. This past season, the 21 year-old picked up 44 points in 61 games with the American Hockey League's Utica Comets. I spoke to Lind earlier this week.
The show must go on! At AM 1150, while broadcasting junior hockey isn't in the cards in the near future, that isn't stopping us from promoting our favourite team. We will again be bringing you a new season of 'The Kelowna Rockets This Week' heard Saturday's at 6 pm. My hope is also for the resurrection of 'The Rockets Report', which is a daily - Monday through Friday - feature that can be heard at 7:10 am. That will be an easy slot to fill as we talk to the current coaches and players on how they dealt with the pandemic and how they are trying to prepare for the upcoming season. All of that gets rolling next month.
Kelly O's: Goodbye Kelly McCrimmon. It is hard to believe the WHL heavyweight has sold the franchise to a new owner. What a great run. What a great asset for our league. I've been a fan of Kelly for years. All class. A good example? At my mothers funeral in 2008, at the front of the church at the memorial service, was a banquet of flowers. It read: 'Sorry for your loss. Brandon Wheat Kings Hockey Club'. What does that say about Kelly and his crew? Top shelf.
The Mayor: It was nice to run into the mayor of Prince George, Al Bristowe, when he and his family made a stop in the Okanagan last week. I appreciated the phone call and the chance to catch up for some nachos and drinks at the Train Station Pub. Ok, Bristowe isn't the mayor, but is connected in the community for all the great work he did when PG hosted the Canada Winter Games in 2015.
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